Abarth 500 Corsa Stradale Concept by Zender

German tuner Zender marks its return to the industry with a comprehensive kit for the Fiat 500 Abarth that it presented at the recently held Frankfurt Motor Show. Zender had gone bust in 2008 but now with the debut of the Abarth 500 Corsa Stradale at the IAA, it announces that it’s truly back. Zender presented the Corsa Stradale in concept form.

It features a highly aggressive body kit and is fitted with a set of 18-inch alloys covered in Pirelli P Zero Black performance tires that measure 215/35 ZR 18. The package also includes a lowered adjustable sports suspension and a customized interior cabin with stainless steel pedals, illuminated door sill strips and custom sport seats.

In the engine department, Zender gave the 4-cylinder 1.6-liter turbocharged engine a boost of 76 bhp (57 kW) over the regular Abarth 500 so it now delivers 236 bhp (176 kW) and 247 lb-ft (335 Nm) of torque. Zender achieved this output by installing a larger turbocharger, modifying the fuel injection with a bigger fuel pressure regulator, as well as by updating the engine management.

The other modifications include revised camshafts and pistons together with a stainless steel exhaust that made the vehicle accelerate faster by 0.7s to 6.5s when sprinting from zero to 62 mph (0-100 km/h). With this kit, the Abarth can reach a top speed of 144 mph (232 km/h).

All things considered, the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is built with the substance of an immaculate Italian performance vehicle - operational, purposeful and high-emotion exterior design upgrades, all elaborately mixed to enhance aerodynamics, engine cooling and road-holding grip. Inside, Fiat’s designers encompassed the driver with an energetic and technical-styled "cockpit," exemplified with the performance hardware and distinct details to make the 500 Abarth a “world-class performance machine."

Aggressive, functional styling

The all-new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth takes the city-friendly sizes and trademark Cinquecento cues of the new Fiat 500 hatchback model further, with an elaborate approach to exterior aerodynamics and high-performance capability.

To enhance aerodynamics and to create more engine compartment space for the brand-new 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine - the Fiat 500 Abarth's front fascia is more articulated and has been pushed 2.7 inches (69 mm) in front of its trademark "whiskers and logo" face, recalling the Abarth elaborate features from the classis 850 TC and 1000 TC models.

Continuing with the Fiat 500 Abarth's exclusive front aerodynamic design treatment, the trademark "Abarth" shield skims on a finned surface that fills in as an additional air intake. Beneath, the "triptych" of air intakes comprises of three inlets with more extensive openings than the Fiat 500.

For a more audacious appearance, a blacked-out fascia accent incorporates projector-beam fog lamps and helps navigate air for engine cooling. Twin "nostrils" are accurately situated on the front fascia to optimize airflow all through the two engine intercoolers (both intercoolers are noticeable through the "nostril" inlets).